Lurbira Garnacha
We were excited for Serenity’s pick this week! She chose Lurbira Garnacha from Bodegas Beramendi in Navarre, Spain. Lurbira is a young Spanish Garnacha made in collaboration with Rooted Selections. Rooted Selections imports unique, delicious, and hidden gems. They are a small company importing small handcrafted producers. Their producers share some very important common threads: Family-owned, environmentally conscious farming, natural winemaking techniques, and most importantly they offer something unique and completely needed in the wine market. There is a proud partnership between Rooted Selections and Bodegas Beramendi. Lurbira in the ancient Basque pantheon was the “Mother Goddess of the Earth”, the name represents their shared values of commitment to the environment and furthering women’s rights.
Founded in 1990, Bodegas Beramendi is helmed by second-generation winemaker Luisa Janices and is one of the few female-owned and operated wineries in Spain. They produce all their wines from their own grapes grown in exceptionally well cared for vineyards. They strive to be respectful of the unique pace of each vineyard and work with the surrounding landscapes instead of trying to fight against the natural environment they work in. By respecting the environment and lands of their vineyards, they believe they are able to enhance the natural traits of their grapes which are then expressed through their wines. Bodegas Beramendi is located in Northern Spain, at the western end of the Pyrenees. It borders France to the north, Basque to the west, and Aragón to the east. Their vines are grown in limestone and chalk soil with the limestone offering beneficial nutrients to their grapes, helping them grow better and producing sweeter grapes. Limestone is special because it retains moisture in dry weather but also offers good drainage in cool weather. The region presents a unique geographic centrality at the confluence of Atlantic, Continental, and Mediterranean climatic influences.
Lurbira Garnacha is meant to be a fresher and younger representation of the traditional varietal. It has a beautiful ruby color, is juicy and tart with dark fruit and a bit of pepperiness, with notes of raspberry and strawberry. On the nose, you’ll get black plum, and at 14.5% alcohol, you’ll also get that alcohol note. This bright, fresh Garnacha is aged in tanks rather than oak barrels, allowing the red fruit flavors and spice to shine. It’s perfectly paired with grilled or roasted meats and spicy flavors. Pick up a bottle to try for yourself.
